Author Patricia Ange Blog

A New Jersey drawing is raising eyebrows in its vivid depiction of slavery.

Artist Kara Walker’s illustration of sex acts between black slaves and white owners is on display for the second time at the Newark Public Library. While some consider the drawing a historical retrospective others are finding it offensive.

The artwork, which was originally displayed during Thanksgiving, depicts some of the horrors experienced by female slaves at the hands of their owners before and during the Reconstructionera such as a slaves engaging in oral sex. (Click here to see a photo of the artwork.)

Since the drawing has been redisplayed, library workers have complained that the illustration is inappropriate. They’ve met to decide on a plan of action and have covered the drawing with a cloth in the meantime.

“They said there are a lot of things in artwork we don’t want to talk about…